Can a house be designed over the Internet?

Yes, I have designed homes for clients that I have never met in person.

How often can I make changes?

You can make as many changes as you like during the design phase because I want you to be satisfied with the completed product.

Why are plans on the internet so much cheaper?

House plans are expensive and time consuming to create but cheap to reproduce.  Therefore, the more times you sell a plan the less it cost.  If you can find a stock plan that you like then you could save some money.  Unfortunately geographical areas and code requirements are different in every city, county and state.  If you buy a stock plan be sure it complies with your local codes, that it comes with complete construction documents and can be built as drawn.  Stock plans often have special conflicts, missing specifications, etc. If this is the case, you will need to have the plans modified by the original designer and that could get expensive.

How long will it take to complete the plans?

It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks for modest plans and longer for the more complex plans.  

Are you an architect or a building designer?

I am a residential building designer / draftsman, I can design residential and light commercial buildings up to three stories and 20,000 sqft.  I will let you know if your project requires an architect, or if an architect would better meet your needs.  

Do I need an architect to design my home? 

You do not need an architect for residential light frame construction.  Generally, architects are invaluable when dealing with complicated building practices, sites and materials. Generally the cost of an architect is considerably higher than that of a building designer.   Most custom homes in Texas are designed by building designers.

Do you draw by hand or use a CAD Program?

 I started out drawing by hand 36 years ago, but have been using SoftPlan (http://www.softplan.com) for about 10 years now. Using CAD enables me to make any number of changes to your plans without extra cost to you.  I can easily make changes for you throughout the design process.  CAD makes it quick and easy to update your plan in a way that isn't possible when hand drawing a plan, ensuring that you get exactly the house you want. CAD allows us to visually communicate over the Internet. Which is not only fast and convenient for you, but also enables you to have more interaction during the design process?